From knowing your rights on divorce to Easter egg deals, our experts share advice and deals
Every Saturday, The Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.
Mel Hunter will take on readers’ consumer issues, Amanda Cable will give you the best advice for buying your dream home, Maddy Tooke rounds up the best coupons to save you money and Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes.
Judge Rinder - The Sun's legal expert
AS I boarded the train for my long commute to TV court the other day, I realised I had left my book at home so I picked up a discarded copy of The Guardian.
Sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.
The headline which drew my immediate attention read as follows: “Woman ‘trapped in loveless marriage’ after judges refuse divorce.”
To say I was cross about this would be an understatement.
Anybody simply scanning the page (which I suspect a good deal of broadsheet readers do) might have been left with the wholly-misleading impression that the reason this woman is “trapped” in her marriage is somehow the judges’ fault.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The case I was reading about was Owens v Owens.
Tini Owens, 66, was refused a divorce because her husband of almost 40 years, Hugh Owens, 78, would not admit that the marriage had broken down.
The reason Mrs Owens’ case failed is because she was unable to prove one of the facts required by law which demonstrate that a marriage has broken down irretrievably.
These include adultery, dissertation, separation or unreasonable behaviour.
When it comes to divorce, couples should be able to separate in an adult way without having to place blame
Judge Rinder on divorce law
Even though Mrs Owens’ marriage causes her misery, the court found her feelings were insufficient to prove that there had been an irrevocable breakdown in the marriage.
This is not the fault of the judges who merely interpret the law but of Parliament who passed the law in the first place.
As the brilliant (and thoroughly humane) president of the family division Sir James Munby said in his judgment, divorce law is based on “hypocrisy and lack of intellectual honesty” and that as a result, couples engage in “consensual, collusive, manipulation” of the law.
The other judges of appeal also roundly criticised the current legislation.
Regardless of their feelings towards Mrs Owens’ predicament, these judges had no choice but to rule in favour of a husband who is clearly in the wrong.
The only response now is for Parliament to amend this outdated legislation at once.
They should introduce a no-fault divorce so that couples can separate in a grown-up way without the corrosive effects of being forced to blame one another — and so that Mrs Owens, and others like her, can get the justice they deserve.
Summing up
Q. I AM having trouble with my ex-landlord over cash related to a property I moved out of in January.
I paid a refundable £50 deposit for an electric gate fob and now he’s reluctant to refund me for it, despite endless text messages and him asking for my bank details twice.
He also said he would pay £100 for furniture that I left in the house.
He’s not replying to my messages now and I don’t know what to do next.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Lisa, London
A.This is an easy one.
You are perfectly entitled to the £50 you paid as a deposit for the electric key fob.
You are also entitled to the £100 he offered you for the furniture (assuming that you have this offer in writing by email).
If your landlord continues to fail to pay up, I would write to him making it clear that you want your money back within 14 days or you intend to take the matter to the small claims court.
I know it may be a trivial sum to some but, given your landlord’s behaviour, I suspect you are not the only tenant who has had this problem.
It seems that it is time someone finally stood up to him.
• Mr Rinder regrets he cannot answer questions personally.
Answers intended as general guidance, they do not constitute legal advice and are not a substitute for getting independent legal advice.
Got a question for Judge Rinder? Email [email protected]
Amanda Cable – Property expert with the best advice for your home
Praying for 'church home
IT’S the TV series that gets millions talking – but Broadchurch’s mysteries are only part of the story.
The hit show is sending property prices soaring as fans dream of a new life on the coast.
The Dorset-based police drama, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman isn’t the only screen favourite to “sell a dream” to viewers.
Research shows other shows such as Poldark and Downton Abbey are also boosting prices in areas where they are filmed.
A study by conveyancing firm MyHomeMove reveals prices in the location of a top series spike within a year of it being shown.
Chief executive Doug Crawford said: “Areas we regularly see on our screens have become increasingly popular with homebuyers.
“Broadchurch, a huge hit once more, has had noticeable impact on prices in Bridport and West Bay, where it is filmed.
Meanwhile, Poldark and Downton Abbey both helped local property markets, which indicates that a touch of nostalgia may be what homebuyers are looking for.
“If you are selling in any of these areas, maximise the value of your property by making your home and setting look as stunning as possible – to sell ‘the dream’ to potential buyers.”
• See more at .
- IF you love the sweeping seaside views in Broadchurch, try this one-bed flat in West Bay, Dorset, where the show’s beach scenes are shot. Yours for £175,000.
15Broadchurch views for a price tag of £175,000Credit: Zoopla Unusually, it looks out over the coast in both an easterly and westerly direction.
For details, head to .
Bring the sunshine in
THE Sun’s columnist Lorraine Kelly has launched a summer homeware range – so you can update your interior on a budget.
The seaside-inspired collection for JD Williams features cushions, scented candles, lamps and bedding.
Lorraine says: “Everything I do has budget in mind. I wanted the range to be fun so I included my favourite things such as flamingos and pineapples for a lighthearted, retro feel.”
Here, Lorraine picks four of her favourites from .
Got a question for our experts? Email [email protected]
Mel Hunter – Readers’ champion on fighting for your rights
I'm not going for Goldcar
Q. FOR the last four months I have been trying to get back my £950 car hire deposit from Goldcar, in Larnaca, Cyprus.
The booking was made through Atlaschoice, with Goldcar Europe the partner company in Cyprus. I returned the car undamaged but have not been refunded.
I asked my bank to recover the money, but they have not been able to. I have spoken to Atlaschoice and emailed Goldcar but got no reply.
Jim Methven, Dumbartonshire
A. You only found out that this chunky deposit hadn’t been returned when your bank told you that your account was overdrawn.
You were in touch with Atlaschoice for some months but the trail went completely cold when the company went bust in January.
Once you got in touch with me, I took the case to Goldcar.
It said its IT system mistakenly showed the money had already been claimed back by your bank.
It took a few more weeks, but finally, five months after your holiday, your £950 was back where it belonged – in your bank account.
You told me that I’d made your day. It was my pleasure.
Q. I PURCHASED a Hotpoint washing machine a year ago but for the last five months the machine has leaked every time I use it.
Hotpoint has sent four engineers, who have all said something different, but who all agree it doesn’t leak.
Why is it then, that every time I use the it, I have a kitchen floor full of water?
The machine is not fit for purpose and I want it replaced or a refund.
Carol Smallwood, Warrington, Cheshire
A. With the machine going wrong after such a short time you were right to call on your Hotpoint warranty.
I got Hotpoint to send another expert out, who did admit the machine leaked.
He replaced the dispenser, hose and control panel – but still the water dripped out.
With the repair not working, I asked Hotpoint to replace the machine, which it did.
It didn’t change the stress you’d been caused but at least you can get your washing done now.
Q. I UPGRADED my wife’s phone number, on my Vodafone account, in September 2015 to get a new phone and price plan, but the phone she received was faulty and didn’t charge.
Vodafone arranged for a new handset to be sent out, but this was never delivered even though a courier picked up the old phone.
She’s been stuck on a £33-a-month price plan which was reset, landing me with another 24-month contract.
I ended up just buying my wife a phone myself. I can’t cancel my account as I have two other numbers with Vodafone.
Zach Kyte, New Ash Green, Kent
A. I explained everything to Vodafone.
It admitted this should have been sorted out much sooner and refunded you £326 for the incorrect payments, as well as £100 for all the hassle you’ve been through.
It also finally reset that price plan.
With a new baby due to arrive any day, at least one less thing will be giving you sleepless nights!
Do you have a consumer issue? Email [email protected]
Maddy Tooke – Coupon Queen finding you
the best bargains
1.Get £18 off your first online order of more than £60 from SAINSBURY’S with code AFFVCSXEMAR. See . Ends Tuesday.
2. Save 20 per cent at THE WORKS with code QUID20. Order via Quidco to get 12.6 per cent cashback.
3.Get two-for-one tickets to THE CAKE AND BAKE SHOW in London and Manchester. Offer expires April 21. For dates or to book, go to See .
4.Use code BIGART 17 for half price large canvas prints at TRUPRINT.
5.Get £10 off a £100 spend at ZAVVI with code BIGSPENDERZ. Order through and earn up to £20 cashback on top.
6.Save 40 per cent off orders from THE BODY SHOP with code 14319. Order via and get 4.6 per cent cashback.
7. Save 20 per cent off CARVELA orders from with code CARV20. Expires tomorrow.
8. Get a free Max Factor make-up set when you spend £15 on Max Factor products in BOOTS.
9. Save 40 per cent off main meals from BELLA ITALIA with voucher from . Valid Monday to Friday only.
10.An annual RAILCARD reduced from £30 to £25 at . Use code MSEASTER. Expires April 24.
Five top freebies
- NEW Topcashback customers can get two free Thorntons’ Easter eggs up to the value of £13.95. This deal works with the two-for-£10 Easter egg deal. Sign up through . Expires April 16.
- Thomas & Friends’ UK tour is on from Saturday next week until June 4 – and it’s free. Find the time and date nearest to you at .
- Free Easter Party at Hamleys, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin, Lakeside and Cardiff. For times, dates and to book go to .
- Get a free Amstel 650ml from Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons or Ocado with the ClickSnap app. Buy online or in store and upload the receipt to the app to claim the £2 cash back. Expires Tuesday.
- Get a free sample of handmade floral soap from . These will run out fast, so be quick.